The Best Of The Alps Summer Road Trip Powered By Audi Quattro

One week, countless possibilities.

We are on a journey through the Alps – together with Tom and Sebastian from Austria, Sarah and Uli from Germany, Leon from Switzerland, Chris from Wales, Simone from Italy and Ása from Iceland. We are about to have seven days full of unique nature and unforgettable experiences. Four of the twelve unique Best of the Alps destinations are on our route: Lech Zürs am Arlberg, St. Anton am Arlberg, Davos Klosters and St. Moritz. We conquer the streets of the Alps with vehicles from Audi.

myAudi Sphere
But it all starts in the big city – or at least nearby. Everyone meets at Munich Airport to pick up their cars for the week. Five brand-new Audi Q8's in eye-catching colours: dragon orange and galactic blue. And indeed, the cars really attract attention everywhere they go – on motorways and on mountain roads. Drivers and vehicles are already in harmony on the closed training area and can hardly wait to start in the direction of the Alps. That’s why we're leaving - first stop: Lech Zürs am Arlberg. The scenic road winding up to the mountain resort perfectly showcases that the Q8 is made for Alpine roads like this one.

Lech Zürs am Arlberg

The view is overwhelming. The two-thousanders lie lined-up in front of us – perfect for gliding down on skis in winter and climbing up on foot in summer. We spend the night in a wooden bivouac at over 2300 metres above sea level and the next morning waiting for the sun to rise behind the historic settlement of the Walser people at Bürstegg. Afterwards we plunge into the icy waters of the river Lech while hydrospeeding and enjoy a hearty lunch at the Gasthaus Bodenalpe inn. The region around Lech Zürs am Arlberg is well known for its culinary delights, and rightfully so, as we experienced first-hand the evening before, eating the traditional fare of Kässpätzle (cheese spätzle), among other things, at Gasthaus Klösterle.

Things to do in Lech Zürs am Arlberg:

An overnight stay in a bivouac at Stierlochkopf
Eating delicious Käsespätzle at Gasthaus Klösterle
Stay a few nights at Hotel Roggal
A sunrise hike to Bürstegg
Hydro Speeding at the Lech
Lunch in Gasthaus Bodenalpe
A cable car ride and hike up to Rüfikopf

On the way to St. Anton am Arlberg – located only a stone's throw away on the same mountain – we pass the Flexengalerie tunnel with its unrivalled views of the untamed nature surrounding us.

St. Anton am Arlberg

The next day we start with an early yoga session up on Gampen mountain that leaves everyone feeling awake and alive. We enjoy the peace and quiet and the wonderful views – and the hearty breakfast served afterwards. Then it’s time to hop on the e-bikes that will take us to the idyllic Verwall Valley - a true paradise for cyclists. Passing a pump track and a North Shore Trail, we cross the cable-stayed bridge at the reservoir to Konstanzerhütte mountain hut. On the way back we stop at the high ropes course and climb from tree to tree hand over hand. Now we feel absolutely ready for the dinner that awaits us at the Arlberg-Kandahar-Haus, a place known for both its fascinating history and exquisite culinary treats. Before we make our way to Switzerland, we want to go up again. Cable cars take us to the highest peak of the Arlberg region, the Valluga: 2809 metres above sea and simply breathtaking.

Things to do in St. Anton am Arlberg

Dinner at Galzig Bistrobar
Stay a few nights at Skihotel Galzig
Yoga-Session in the nature
Breakfast at Restaurant Gampen
E-bike-tour in the Verwall-valley
Lunch at Konstanzerhütte
Visit at the High and Low Ropes Course
Dinner at Restaurant Museum including a visit at the skimuseum
Take a cable car up to Valluga and go for a beautiful hike

Back in the valley, it is time to head for Switzerland. After a few hours’ drive we reach Davos. In summer, a stagecoach is still serving the route up to Flüela Pass from Davos. Although we come from the opposite direction, for the Audi Q8s – with their quattro technology – the pass road is a cinch.

Davos Klosters

And here we are - in Europe's highest city at 1560 meters above sea level. Even a little higher is The 5th Roof Top Bar at Hard Rock Hotel Davos, where we gather for a nightcap. But early next morning we are up again to catch the sunrise, then take the cable car up to Madrisa and hike on to Schlappin, a historic Walser valley and wildlife habitat with huts from the 15th century. We stop to eat, among other things, what might be the best blueberry cake in the world at the Gemsli, a wonderful traditional inn.

Things to do in Davos Klosters:

Dinner and staying at Hard Rock Hotel Davos
Hiking at Madrisa
Visit the picturesque Walsertal Schlappin
A snack at Restaurant Gemsli

And the off we go, down the Julier Pass where the most scenic bends and curves lead down to Lake Silvaplana and on to St. Moritz.

St. Moritz

In the evening we take the funicular up to Muottas Muragl, where both a stunning sunset and an excellent barbecue await us. The next day, we cool off swimming in Lake St. Moritz, watching the kiteboarders at Lake Silvaplana and taking SUP boards out to the middle of the lake. But then the mountains call again and we have lunch at the quattro bar on Corviglia. Then we take the gondola up to Piz Nair to more than 3000 meters above sea level. No better place to round off this memorable trip through the Alps! Sharing dinner for the last time, we talk about the past days, all the things we experienced together - on the streets and in the mountains. And we are all sure: This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.